Metatarsal bar



Dec. 16, 1958 WATSON 2,864,179

METATARSAL BAR Filed Dec. 25, 1957 United States Patent 'METATARSAL BARCharles W. Watson, Chicago, ]]l., assignr of'fifty percent to George W.Barnhart, Gary, Ind.

Application December 23, 1957, Serial No. 704,515

4 Claims. (CI. 36-71) This invention relates to a metatarsal bar forincorporation with a clog including reinforcing ribs on the underside ofthe sole as contrasted with'bars designed for securement to theunderside of the sole of a conventional boot or shoe.

Presently there is on the market a-clog of plastic composition whereinthe sole and heel are of relatively thin cross section andwhereinrigidity is obtained by ribs on the underside ofthe same;Suchconstructionresults in the thin sections required for a practicalmolding operation and lightness in Weight;

Inasmuch as an article of this characteris. often preferred forhouseholduse, gardening, sports, during the summer for general wear andin resort areas where warm weather prevails and, sincepersons who areobliged to wear a metatarsal bar on conventional footwear need thebenefits thereof continuously, the principal object of my invention isto provide a metatarsal bar adapted to a clog of the foregoingcharacter.

It will be understood that, as generally employed, a metatarsal bar iselongated andis placed against the sole of the shoe substantiallyslightly posteriorly of the ball of the foot with the longer axis of thebar substantially transversely of the anterior-posterior axis of thefoot. The bar has a ground-contacting surface which is generally planeand may be inclined to the adjacent surface of the shoe in one or bothdirections to shift the Weight of the body thereby to relieveinfirmities of the metatarsal region as well as other conditionsinvolving the metatarsal bones.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a metatarsal barhaving a lower portion which has a ground contacting surface of theproper inclination and area together with an upper portion for securingthe device to the ribbed underside of a clog of the characterhereinabove referred to. The upper or securing portion is provided withgrooves to receive the ribs in a tight intergaging relation to locatethe bar in a medically approved position relative to the clog and inorder that, if desired, a thick, and therefore effective, layer ofcement may be interposed. Since the device as a whole is desirably ofresilient character the cement may be omitted and the frictionalengagement of the ribs and grooves alone relied upon. In this way theuser may readily detach the bar. Inasmuch as the ribs on the sole of theclog are usually perpendicular to the anterior-posterior axis thereofand because a metatarsal bar is frequently applied with its longer axisat some angle other than 90 to the said anterior-posterior axis theinvention also contemplates an attaching section which is at one angleto said anterior-posterior axis and an integral working section which isat a different angle thereto.

Certain preferred modes of carrying the invention into practice aredisclosed in the following description which, taken with theaccompanying drawing, will provide a better understanding of theinvention.

2,864,179 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 "ice presently available clog 10 ofplastic composition including a sole 11 which is uninterrupted on itsupper 'face 12 and is provided with a marginal reinforcing rib 21therearound. Additional ribs are provided and, insofar as concerns thepresent invention, are referred to herein as transverse ribs 24 and 25,arcuate inner rib'26, and longitudinal ribs 27. It will be understoodthat the ribs 27 represent interruptions invwhat would otherwise be-arib 26 extending continuously about the sole and spaced inwardly fromthe margin thereof and that such interruption allows the necessaryflexing ofthe. sole of the clog during walking.

Inasmuch as the commercial form of -clog:referred to herein by way ofexample is provided with theribs 24, 25 and 27 in that area ofthe-sole'wherea metatarsal bar would normally be located the same may beutilized for the securement of the bar of the-invention. It will-beunderstood however that ribs which'aredocated otherwise than=shown butstill in the vicinityof-the ballof the foot, may be utilized by theprovision of appropriate mounting means forming the upper part oflthebarwhile'still being encompassed within the purview of the invention.

The-device proper disassociatedfrom'the clogfis illustrated in Fig. 4and comprises a member 31 ofrubber,

plastic or other material havingthe necessary resiliency and wearresistance required'for metatarsal "bars. The shape is generallyparallelepipedic including an upper face 32 and a lower, wearing face33. This latter may be inclined in a lateral direction and/or ananterior-posterior direction as dictated by the correction to beapplied. Sometimes the bar is intended to transfer the weight of thebody from the ball of the foot to the bar and the position of the barwith respect to the sole and the net effect thereof on the position ofthe foot are all factors dictating the configuration of the bar and itsrelation to the clog. In any case, the upper or attaching portion of thebar may be located relative to the therapeutic portion thereof asrequired. The preceding is not to be construed as requiring a differentmold for every variant but the provision of a limited number of moldsfor a limited range of different bars for the average of a specificgroup of corrective shapes. It has been found that in nearly all cases,the corrective to be applied by the bar is not too critical.

In view of the foregoing the invention device comprises a lower oractive portion 38 surmounted by an upper or attaching portion 37. Thislatter is provided with channels or grooves 41 adapted respectively toengage tightly the ribs 24, 25 and 27 or any one thereof. Preferably thegrooves are arranged to engage one or more of the ribs which aredirected laterally as well as one or more which are directedanterior-posteriorly, whereby shifting of the bar in either direction ina horizontal plane during r locomotion is precluded. The fit is selectedin a manner to provide a frictional grip of the member 31 which may, ifdesired, be supplemented 'by an adhesive. When not intended to bepermanently secured in place the frictional grip will be so selectedthat accidental dislodgment is precluded but manual attachment anddetachment permitted. The upper surface 30 is preferably arranged tobear against the underside of the sole 10 to transmit the load to theclog in the required manner although the load may be taken by the ribsbearing on the bottom of the grooves 41. In some cases the lower surface33 r nay be inclined to provide a thickness to the bar at the inside ofthe foot which is greater than that at the outside thereof, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3. In other cases the surface 33 may be inclined in theanterior-posterior-direction. Sometimes both inclinations are combined;-

It will be understood that where the active portionof the bar isinclined in either or both directions the device will be furnished in apair consisting of a left and a right.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the longer of the grooves 41 are inclined withreference to the longer axis of the member 31 in order that the activeportion 38 thereof may be inclined with respect to theanterior-posterior axis of the foot. Alternatively the active portionmay be similarly inclined as seen in Figs. 5 at 38a and the attachingportion 37a arranged to be parallel to the ribs 24 and 25. Otherwise thefunction and mode of attaching the device remains the same.

While I have shown certain embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto sincemany modifications may be made and I, therefore, contemplate by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A metatarsal bar for detachable securement to a clog having ribs onthe underside of the sole thereof, some of the ribs having a lateraldirection and the others having an anterior-posterior directioncomprising: a lower portion having a ground-contacting face and an upperportion for securement to the ribs, said upper portion having groovesextending both laterally and anteriorlyposteriorly for snap-typefrictional engagement over respective like-directed ribs to restrainshifting of the bar in a horizontal plane during locomotion, the degreeof friction being so selected as to prevent accidental dislodgment ofthe bar but to allow manual attachment and detachment,

2. A metatarsal bar to be attached to a clog having ribs on theunderside of the sole which are transverse to the anterior-posterioraxis of the sole comprising a lower portion of substantiallyparallelepipedic configuration having a ground-contacting surface and anupper portion surmounting said lower portion, said lower portionconstituting the bar proper and having a longitudinal axis positionedtransversely to the anterior-posterior axis of the clog at an angledictated by the corrective action applied by the bar to the foot, saidupper portion having its own longitudinal axis parallel to the ribs anda plurality of grooves parallel to said longitudinal axis for frictionalengagement with the ribs to retain the bar in proper relationship withthe clog.

3. A metatarsal bar to be attached to a clog having a sole and ribs onthe lower surface of the sole comprising a lower portion formed as ametatarsal bar having a ground-contacting face inclined downwardly fromthe outer edge of the sole to the inner edge thereof to apply aprescribed corrective action to the foot of the wearer and an upperattaching portion having an upper surface conforming substantially tothe lower surface of the sole and in abutment thereto and a plurality ofgrooves in said upper surface for frictional engagement with the ribs.

4. A metatarsal bar to be attached to a clog having ribs on the lowersurface thereof, the ribs having a direction normal to theanterior-posterior axis of the clog comprising: a lower portion formedas a metatarsal bar having a ground-contacting face which issubstantially rectangular, the longer dimension whereof is inclined withrespect to the direction of the ribs and an upper attaching portionhaving a plurality of grooves for engagement with the ribs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS887,752 Beck May 19, 1908 2,519,613 Urban Aug. 22, 1950 2,760,279 JonesAug. 28, 1956

